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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Week 9 Preview, Part I: The Game of the Year

BOSTON COLLEGE (7-0) at VIRGINIA TECH (6-1)
Thursday, 10/25/07, 7:30pm ET - Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
Series Record: Virginia Tech leads 9-4; Boston College won last year's meeting 22-3
Stat Watch: 13-2....the Hokies' all-time record on ESPN Thursday Nights; both losses were to BC (1995 & 2006)
Brief Overview: If you cast aside those Thursday night bugaboos that have plagued nearly every favored team this season, on paper this looks to be a comfortable Eagle win. The Hokies will be without stud LB Vince Hall, the QB situation is shaky as ever with either a banged-up Tyrod Taylor or incompletion/turnover machine Sean Glennon taking snaps, and the Tech OL and running game are still in shambles. On the flipside, the Eagles have the top rated rushing defense in the nation, one of the leading Heisman candidates in QB Matt Ryan, and they come into this one healthy and looking for respect after playing four straight patsies (and sleepwalking in a few of those). It's been six weeks since BC has faced off against anyone near the caliber of the Hokies (9/15 at Georgia Tech)...have the Eagles been lulled into a competitive stupor?
Prediction: It'll take rampant Eagle self-destruction, along with some special teams heroics by the Hokies, and a flawless game by Taylor or Glennon for Tech to notch a victory. Not gonna happen, but the Thursday Night Lane Stadium atmosphere will make it interesting for most of the game. Boston College 27, Virginia Tech 17

The remaining ACC game previews for this week will be posted for your bemusement tomorrow...

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